But teams should exercise a bit of caution: January deals are notoriously tricky, carried out as they are in a bit of a rush.

Even the summer throws up its fair share of missteps... and the last transfer window was no different. Five months into the season, we look at the 20 biggest Premier League deals of the summer and decide whether each was hit or miss:

20) Xherdan Shaqiri

Inter to Stoke, £11.9m

(Image: Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine)

One of the most exciting signings of the summer window - and perhaps one of the best.

Xherdan Shaqiri, formerly of Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, has combined with the likes of Bojan Krkic and Ibrhahim Affelay to create a seriously watchable forward line.

Stoke are playing some silky football at the moment and the classy Swiss star has been central to that.

What’s more, you suspect there’s still room for improvement.

Verdict: HIT

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

19) Salomon Rondon

Zenit St Petersburg to West Brom, £11.9m

(Image: Christopher Lee/Getty)

It appeared a major coup when West Brom pulled off the deal - but has Rondon proved his price tag?

The Venezuelan looked set to strike a partnership with Saido Berahino after arriving at the Hawthorns but he has found himself leading the line for most of the season.

He's only managed three league goals - two of which were winners - but that's not enough from your leading marksman.

A shift in formation would probably help but we know it's unlikely to happen with Tony Pulis.

Verdict: MISS

18) Florian Thauvin

Marseille to Newcastle, £12m

(Image: Stu Forster/Getty)

Perhaps the biggest miss on the list…

Florain Thauvin joined Newcastle in a multi-million pound deal in August, but has fallen woefully short of expectations.

The 22-year-old Frenchman made his Premier League debut in their goalless draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford but has failed to cement a place in the first team.

An urgent improvement is needed... but it looks like he could be sold.

Verdict: MISS

17) Clinton Njie

Lyon to Tottenham, £12m

Spurs were in dire need of some pace on the flanks when they coughed up for Njie.

However, injuries have proved a real problem as he bids to cement a place in Mauricio Pochettino's starting line-up.

There have been impressive cameos, including a fine substitute showing against Man City, but he will be after more.

Verdict: MISS

16) Nathaniel Clyne

Southampton to Liverpool, £12.4m

(Image: Stu Forster)

Given the upheaval at Anfield this season, Nathaniel Clyne has been a reassuringly consistent presence for Liverpool.

The 24-year-old England international has made a seamless transition to life on Merseyside and promises to be a long-term fixture at right back... even if the Reds' defence is very much a work in progress.

Clyne has welcomed the positive approach of new boss Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. And he’ll be looking to impress for the remainder of the season with the Euros on the horizon.

Verdict: HIT

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

15) Matteo Darmian

(Image: Reuters)

Torino to Manchester United, £12.7m

He's not universally popular at Old Trafford but Darmian was brought in to address Man United's lack of proper full-backs and he has done that.

He's had a few off games, like the defeat at the Emirates, but on the whole has provided something this side has been missing since Gary Neville left.

Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia, Rafael and Ashley Young have all played at right-back sincce Neville, but none have looked as assured as Darmian.

He's still adjusting to the Premier League - that's to be expected - but he's only 26 and has his best years ahead of him. At just £12.7m, this was a shrewd piece of business.

Verdict: HIT

14) Aleksandar Mitrovic

Anderlecht to Newcastle, £13m

(Image: Stu Forster)

Mitrovic was booked one second into his debut and experienced a similar issue in his second game.

After five games with the club he'd picked up two bookings and a red card but no goals. Newcastle had to wait two months for the £14.5m signing to score, and even that strike came in a 6-1 defeat.

Mitrovic has improved since, but while his performances show a spark missing from much of Newcastle's team, Steve McClaren hasn't yet been able to harness that to the maximum.

Verdict: MISS, for now

13) Georginio Wijnaldum

(Image: Richard Sellers/PA Wire)

PSV to Newcastle, £14.5m

Moving from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven to Premier League bottom feeders Newcastle must have been a shock. But if it was Wijnaldum didn't show it.

A goal on his debut has been followed up by eight more and four assists. Not bad for midfielder in one of the league's worst sides.

The Dutchman has been the best thing about this Newcastle team in the first half of the season.

He's one of the few players to have brought any joy to the fans and looks like he should be playing at a better club. If Newcastle don't improve, he might soon be.

Verdict: HIT

12) Bastian Schweinsteiger

(Image: Matthew Peters)

Bayern Munich to Manchester United, £14.5m

Perhaps Manchester United fans should have been more suspicious about Bayern Munich's apparent willingness to let Schweinsteiger to leave.

After all, he was one of their most experienced and iconic players. Someone who came through the ranks and was present for all of their most important moments. And he only cost £14.5million?

He wasn't signed as a goal threat, or for his attacking talent - his days as a winger have been over for a long time - but he's not offered much else either.

The World Cup winner is still good on the ball but physically he's a passenger and when fielded alongside Michael Carrick (remember the game at the Emirates?) United have looked incredibly vulnerable.

Schweinsteiger is a luxury player in a team that can't afford luxuries.

Verdict: MISS

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

11) Pedro

Barcelona to Chelsea, £21.1m

(Image: Reuters)

Signed from Barcelona and with a goal 20 minutes into his Chelsea debut, it's fair to say that Chelsea fans' first impression of the Spaniard was positive.

But that was pretty much as good as got for Pedro.

With Chelsea in free fall and Jose Mourinho in the midst of an existential crisis, Pedro was always going to struggle to adapt to life England - a feat that would have been difficult enough with Chelsea playing well.

He's yet to kick on under Guus Hiddink either. Worrying signs.

Verdict: MISS

10) Abdul Baba Rahman

Augsburg to Chelsea, £21.7m

(Image: Mike Hewitt)

This won't take long.

Chelsea's defence has been awful this season. Truly awful. With Branislav Ivanovic in such woeful form the obvious choice seemed to be to move Cesar Azpilicueta over to right-back and let Rahman play on the left.

So why didn't Mourinho want to do that? And why, when he eventually did start dropping Ivanovic, did young Brazilian midfielder Kenedy get in ahead of him?

When you pay such a high price for a defender, you expect the manager to be able to trust him. That Mourinho didn't trust him tells you all you need to know about Rahman.

Verdict: MISS

9) Heung-min Son

Bayer Leverkusen to Tottenham, £22m

(Image: Richard Heathcote)

Clearly a very skilful player, Son had Spurs fans excited when he arrived from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.

The South Korean netted two goals in his second game for the club, helping them to a 3-1 win over Qarabag in the Europa League, and then netted the winner against Crystal Palace.

But his season has since been disrupted by injuries and he is only just starting to make an impact.

Verdict: Not much to go on

8) Morgan Schneiderlin

Southampton to Manchester United, £24m

(Image: Reuters)

One of the more difficult names to judge, this.

Morgan Schneiderlin has quickly become a favourite among Manchester United fans, who value his calmness and discipline.

However, manager Louis van Gaal appears to be less convinced, having omitted the Frenchman from his team on a surprising number of occasions.

Still, he probably ranks as one of few United successes this season.

Verdict: HIT

7) Memphis Depay

PSV to Manchester United, £25m

(Image: Getty)

If you’re better known for your flashy dress sense and swanky-looking cars, you’ve probably not had a great start to life in the Premier League.

Memphis was expected to be a big hit in English football, with his silky dribbling skills and fearsome shot from long range.

But besides the occasional flash of quality, the young Dutchman has fallen spectacularly short of expectations.

And his struggles to adapt have only served to exacerbate Manchester United’s ongoing problems.

Verdict: MISS

6) Roberto Firmino

Hoffenheim to Liverpool, £29m

(Image: Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine)

Another big-money Liverpool signing, Roberto Firmino arrived at Anfield amid much fanfare and took some time to show his worth.

After a few quiet displays, the 24-year-old forward starred the Reds’ emphatic win over Manchester City at the Etihad, then impressed against Arsenal.

Consistency is obviously an issue, but two more goals against Norwich show he can be an important player.

Verdict: HIT

5) Nicolas Otamendi

Valencia to Manchester City, £32m

(Image: AFP/Getty)

After a year of messing around with Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala, Man City bit the bullet and went out to buy a new centre-back in the summer.

Otamendi probably not out of the very top drawer, but he's a very talented defender, solid in the tackle and more than capable of holding his own in the air. He was excellent at Valencia last term and looks a great partner for Vincent Kompany.

The problem is that he has barely played with the Belgian, and has instead been forced to organise things with lesser partners. His error against West Ham was also a moment to forget.

Not the easiest of starts, but he looks a solid bet.

Verdict: HIT

4) Christian Benteke

Aston Villa to Liverpool, £32.5m

(Image: Getty)

Christian Benteke’s signing was widely perceived to be a shrewd piece of business by former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.

The burly Belgian had been a major success at previous club Aston Villa and he was set to provide the Reds with a focal point for their other creative attackers. Or so it appeared.

But it just hasn’t worked out for him, not least because Rodgers was sacked and has been replaced by a manager who doesn’t seem to fancy him.

Match-winning goals against Leicester and Sunderland may have gone some way to silencing his doubters, but there’s a growing perception Benteke’s future might unfold away from Anfield.

Verdict: MISS

3) Anthony Martial

Monaco to Manchester United, £36m

(Image: Action Images via Reuters)

After the exits of Angel Di Maria, Javier Hernandez and Robin van Persie, Manchester United looked desperately short of attacking talent.

Their obvious need for reinforcements – plus Ed Woodward's misguided public boasting – probably forced the price for Martial rather higher than it should have been, bringing some scepticism given his lack of experience at the highest level.

But the Frenchman has been a rare bright point in United's season to date, impressing with his sharp finishing and lightning pace. Only Louis van Gaal's prosaic tactics have prevented him making an even bigger impact.

Verdict: HIT

2) Raheem Sterling

Liverpool to Manchester City, £49m

After his controversial exit from Anfield, the pressure has been on Raheem Sterling to recapture the form that saw him become one of the most sought-after young players in world football.

And while he’s failed to scale the peaks of two seasons ago, the 21-year-old forward has still produced some brilliant performances, including a Premier League hat-trick against Bournemouth and a brace in City’s final game in the Champions League group stages against Borussia Monchengladbach.

It’s worth noting too, that Sterling’s eye-watering transfer fee was largely based on his potential, rather than what he’s already achieved in his career.

Now, the onus is on Sterling to make the transition to the next level and play a crucial role in City’s trophy hunt.

Verdict: HIT

1) Kevin De Bruyne

Wolfsburg to Manchester City, £54m

(Image: PA)

First things first: £54million is a great deal of money.

Like, a serious, serious wad of notes. Mafia stuff, really. But goodness, doesn't De Bruyne look worth every penny of that colossal fee?

The Belgian has (re)taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, racking up assists and goals aplenty and instantly becoming one of Manchester City's key players.

Two footed, brave and persistent, he is a constant menace to opposition defenders – and, at just 24, he should be one of the league's star players for years to come.